Laboratory Grading, Physics 110, Matthews

Laboratories numerical grades of zero to 20 are used to represent the laboratory letter grades. The corresponding letter grades are:

ScoreLetter grade
20A+
19A
18A-
17B to B +
16B - to B
15C to C+
14C- to C
13D to D+
12D- to D
11 or lessF

A laboratory report that presents all the necessary information clearly and accurately and in the proper form is an A report, and is awarded a numerical grade of 19. A well-written lab report with no errors or omissions should receive a grade of 19. A grade of 20 corresponds to a truly extraordinary report, with style and thoroughness appropriate for publication.

Students often ask why deductions start at 19 rather than 20. This is because few reports, even clear and accurate reports without significant errors or omissions, are A+ reports. The Bulletin of Wake Forest University states that an A corresponds to "exceptionally high achievement." An A+ demands even more. An A+ report is typed. All relations are derived or include appropriate citations. More is expected of error analysis, for example including standard deviations as well as means. An A+ report looks more like a scientific publication than the typical student lab report. If you strive for such a report and make a few mistakes, your deductions will be from 20, not from 19.

Lab reports are more like essays than problems. If you get all the answers correct on a set of problems, you expect to achieve a score of 100 per cent. On the other hand, you would be not be disappointed to achieve a grade of A rather than an A+ on an excellent essay.

If you achieve a grade of 19, you have made an A, and you should be proud of that accomplishment.